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Species Leucochrysa insularis

Green lacewing - Leucochrysa insularis Green Lacewing - Leucochrysa insularis large spotted green lacewing - Leucochrysa insularis Leucochrysa insularis Leucochrysa insularis ?? - Leucochrysa insularis Leucochrysa insularis Leucochrysa insularis Leucochrysa insularis? - Leucochrysa insularis
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Neuroptera (Antlions, Lacewings, and Allies)
Suborder Hemerobiiformia (Lacewings and Allies)
Family Chrysopidae (Green Lacewings)
Subfamily Chrysopinae (Typical Green Lacewings)
Tribe Leucochrysini
Genus Leucochrysa
No Taxon (subgenus Leucochrysa)
Species insularis (Leucochrysa insularis)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Chrysopa virginica Fitch, Nothochrysa phantasma MacGillivray, Leucochrysa cerverai Navás, Allochrysa virginica ocala Banks
Explanation of Names
Leucochrysa insularis (Walker 1853)
Identification
Two dusky spots on each forewing (single spot in most other Leucochrysa; no spot in L. arizonensis), four mesothoracic spots on a golden ground color, and single abdominal spot are distinctive of this species.
Range
e. US (MA-IA to FL-MS); West Indies(1)(2)
Season
May-Sep in NC(3)
Life Cycle
Eggs are laid in clusters. The larvae that hatch are debris-carriers and are known for carrying snail shells (or even live snails!) in addition to insect body parts. See Tauber et al. (2013), p. 119, for a list of the snail species.(4)
See Also
Some L. floridana can have a similar spot on the abdomen but may be separated readily by the subgeneric differences in wing venation (see the Leucochrysa page) and the presence of only a single spot on each forewing rather than two. Note as well the different thoracic markings and a narrow, dark line across the vertex of the head.
Print References
Muma M.H. (1959) Chrysopidae associated with Citrus in Florida. Fla. Entomol. 42(1): 21-29 (Full text)
Works Cited
1.Species catalog of the Neuroptera, Megaloptera, and Raphidioptera of America North of Mexico
Penny N.D., Adams P.A., Stange L.A. 1997. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 50: 39‒114.
2.A Checklist and Bibliography of the Megaloptera and Neuroptera of Florida (by L. Stange)
3.Insects of North Carolina
C.S. Brimley. 1938. North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
4.Adults and larvae of two Leucochrysa (Leucochrysa) species: descriptions, biological notes, and relationships
Catherine A. Tauber, Francisco Sosa, Gilberto S. Albuquerque & Maurice J. Tauber. 2013. Zootaxa 3750 (2): 101–129 .